27 Best American Horror Story Characters, Ranked

American Horror Story has given audiences a lot over the years: inventive themes, sadistic imagery, fantastic performances and a joyful mythology. But arguably its greatest contribution to television since its 2011 debut has been its characters, an ever-expanding company of misfits and kooks who rarely get happy endings, and […]

American Horror Story has given audiences a lot over the years: inventive themes, sadistic imagery, fantastic performances and a joyful mythology.

But arguably its biggest contribution to television since its 2011 premiere has been its characters, an ever-expanding company of misfits and kooks who rarely get happy endings, and yet we enjoy watching them descend into whatever brand of hell that season conjures up. The citizens of this connected universe of horror stories, from creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Fulchuk, are ultimately what binds it all together and have proven to be a lasting attraction for audiences who want more from their fans.

For its 13th season, "AHS" has invested in the platform of these characters by returning to the cast and their different spirits for a hybrid season. The Satan-centric story has been a chaotic exercise in fanservice with varying degrees of success. When it works, there are undeniable joys in seeing characters who are thought to be done and dusted return for another shot at a good line read or an awkward interaction with someone who shares their face. Many of those characters are on this list, some upgraded for extra screen time and some demoted for disrupting a previously perfect storyline.

As "AHS" hits 13 songs, let's rank the show's best characters. The list below isn't necessarily a ranking of performance, but more of a consideration of character, impact, and sheer entertainment value. It's also worth noting that "AHS13" focuses almost exclusively on characters from the first eight seasons, and for good reason. Even with their flaws, those characters are the show's best work. Recent seasons were considered for this list, but honestly, "AHS" hasn't aged that well — even if some of its characters have.

Grossman has been making a meal of Murphy-written roles since she appeared as Mary Cherry on the hit series, her first, so "AHS" is better off with her among its ranks. But he doesn't have enough credit to draw such characters into this world and make them sing - or scream. Consider Coco Saint-Pierre, a Beverly Hills socialite who thinks she's survived the "apocalypse" only to discover she's actually a mind-wiped wizard hiding right under the Antichrist's nose. But his strength is the ability to detect gluten, and this is no joke. He is a magician who believes that he has nothing to fulfill his vow. Instead, she acts as a supportive sister who helps spirits as much as magic until her time comes. Stay tuned because in "AHS13," Coco uses her Spidey-gluten sense to take down the Zodiac Killer by going into diabetic shock. None of these words have ever been said together, so Coco deserves her flowers for making history.

Lorde has played some important roles on "AHS," including Mallory, one of the most powerful witches, if not the most powerful. But with all due respect to that character, Lorde was never as entertaining as when she was trying on Montana Duke's bleached blonde wig, the aerobics instructor turning the Night Stalker's right-hand man in "1984." The second he ripped a student's mouth open in his midnight aerobics class, we were hooked. Was it derailed when it was revealed that he was behind some of the Camp Redwood hits? Sure, but to be fair, no one was innocent that season. At least he had fun with it. In the end, he becomes the eternal Walmart greeter standing at the camp gates. It makes sense because he's the only person we'd like to see again this season.

Among the tragedies that wallpapered the walls of Murder House, few were as tragic as Nora Montgomery, played by fan favorite Rob in her "AHS" debut. Nora's crazy doctor husband Charles (Matt Ross) built her a lavish home that would become a hellish prison for many, and her spoiled, needy attitude didn't exactly start it off right. Rob's barbed portrayal of Nora as a woman who craves motherhood only to give it up when the going gets tough could have been unforgivable. But when her son was dismembered and again when Charles decided to turn him into a scary monster, he still managed to make the audience care about Nora. A confused light that keeps wandering the halls, oblivious to what is bothering them with their sadness. An unfinished life left a stain that still remains.

The kindly but disturbed laundress who tends to the dirty sheets at the Kurtz Hotel is never a central figure in Season 5, but she benefits from "Hotel's" knack for giving its supporting cast a taste of the main character's energy. Devoted to serial killer mastermind and hotel designer Mr. March (Evan Peters), Miss Evers is a sad figure in 1920s Los Angeles who finds hope in her mad boss' grand vision. Winningham had cameo appearances in Coven, Freak Show and Cult, but here he's central to understanding why the Hotel Cortez is a mecca for the lost and/or depraved. His monologue in the finale is a beautiful transition from his deliberate consent to the murder-suicide of the fugitive in March, to his long-winded revelation that an eternity spent serving an ungrateful man is not worth the time.

Is TV news reporter Beverly Hope a good character or is Porter just as good an actor? Regardless of the answer, no "AHS" list is complete without the power of an Emmy nomination, and there's no better role than the one she's nominated for. As a chapter of storytelling, “Cult” is as uneven as it is heavy on its 2016 election nightmare. Still, it's hard to take your eyes off Porter's rage-filled reporter, who finds purpose in the promises of murderous Trumpster and aspiring cult leader Kai Anderson (Evan Peters). Porter finds in Beverley a recognizable resentment and anger that both sides suffer from. After 2016, Beverley, despite the blood-soaked antics, becomes a somewhat sympathetic figure when faced with the all-too-real frustration people find in the idols they worship. In the end, Beverly was the champion for suffocating Kai, even though she was the first person to help boost his ego.

A decade later, who could have predicted that "Roanoke" would be the show's most controversial season? However, it always takes credit for its creative structure, as a true-crime documentary that switches midway through to damn the cast of said series to their nightmarish fate. During the shift, audiences meet Agnes Mary Winstead, a self-sacrificing thespian who has taken her role as the mad butcher of the Roanoke colony too far and returns to haunt her peers and the group that rejected her. Bates' nonchalant embrace of Agnes's psychosis was truly heartwarming. But it's a fairly sharp commentary on actors who disappear into their roles, and it shows the range of skill loneliness and sadness that can be encountered when committing to the profession. His execution by a real mad butcher's knife was also hinted at.

"Freak Show" made it pretty clear who you should call crazy, and that was Dandy Matt, a privileged mama's boy whose good looks hid a deep, cruel hatred of life—human or otherwise. Wittrock's portrayal is one of the franchise's best fan-favorite villains because Dandy was sick and didn't need to be supernatural to be scary. From killing animals to stealing from Patti LaBelle's world, Dandy was a crazy person with the means to find out. Training under Twisty the Clown (John Carroll Lynch) certainly didn't help Dandy overcome his deadly case of only child syndrome with a dose of FOMO. But he got his due in the end, proving that some evil can be tamed with old karma and Houdini's famous Chinese water torture tank.

Lady Gaga's choice to replace Jessica Lange as the big girl (praise!) of the "AHS" franchise was an inspired one, at least for the "Hotel" season. Giving her a character worthy of her gravitas and flare for dramatic display was a tall order. In retrospect, the Countess is more of a spirit than a character. He drifted in and out of the shadows of the Hotel Cortez, feeding on Angelenos, tourists, and sightseers, making the dark souls of the hotel tremble with fear. She was a tribute to Gaga's own flair for fashion and fame, and a proud embodiment of the misplaced fear she inspires in those who don't understand her. The Countess was a vampy villain, so it was nice that she basically ate all the air in the room she was in -- and Gaga delivered.

Not a single thing that Tate Langdon does in Murder House should be praised. Even his efforts to gently tease Violet (Taisa Farmiga) about his own death are troubled. Selfish Delays Still, in his "AHS" debut, Peters manages to instill a deeply complex empathy for the last person who deserves it. Sure, Tate was raised by less-than-ideal parents, but killing his classmates to get those feelings out is nothing short of reprehensible. The passage of time since "Murder House" (and America's frustrating cycle of school shootings) has only hindered any redeeming qualities at the Tate. But the fact that audiences even tried to find the means to like him in the first place set the stage for similarly flawed character assessments in future seasons. Tate was a pioneer in this way, forcing those who fell under his spell to question their tolerance for evil.

Not everyone can be the big bad in the "AHS" universe. Someone has to strike fear into even the darkest of hearts and Papa Legba (the late Reddick) is good at that. Originally summoned in "Coven", he has the power to grant immortality in exchange for your eternal soul. He is the gatekeeper of the spirit world, which he does with a sinister smile. Never mind his sick sense of humor as he plots an eternal two-on-one hell for his enemies Marie Laveau (Angela Bassett) and Delphine Lalarie (Bates). Reddick's performance inspired the character in a way that no one else could replicate, but after the actor's death in 2023, Orlando Jones stepped in to bring Papa back for "AHS13" -- and did his predecessor justice.

"Murderhouse" set the tone for what the show could do, and one of the more memorable characters trapped in the fateful Los Angeles estate was Conroy's Moira O'Hara, a landlady cursed to spend an eternity cleaning her mantels. Conroy gave Moira a quiet determination that was a saving grace for Vivian Harmon (the old Connie), who saw her ghost. The younger temptress, played by Ben Harmon (Dylan McDermott), imbued Moira with a seductive charm, two sides of the same coin, Moira took the audience by the hand and gently led us into this world, and because of that, she will always be among our saints.

Try as they might, several seasons of "AHS" have tried to put out the fire that is Queenie's human voodoo doll, and none have succeeded. Descended from Salem witches and New Orleans' voodoo community, she straddles both worlds and is one of the stronger connecting threads of the franchise's mythology, appearing in "Coven," "Hotel," "Apocalypse" and "AHS13." A child of a family, Queenie clings to the family she found at Mrs. Robichaud's academy. Even as he questions his place among them and feels the temptation of his voodoo roots, he finds his way back to "Coven" leader Cordelia Goode (Sarah Paulson). But Queenie has to be praised as one of the best "AHS" scene partners. Whether it's with his fellow witches, tormenting the racist head of Dolphin (Bates) or beating up Mr. March at Card Hotel Cortez, he's a fiery constant in a franchise that needs it.

There's something cancerous about "Hotel," best illustrated by Paulson's turn as the hypodermic Sally. Sally brought Kurtz as much bitterness and unpleasantness as the drugs he injected into his veins. However, he struck a chord with viewers as the hotel's nosy joke. He was no stranger to the pain of its story, and often shared it, but there was also a lightness to him, thanks to the often detached humor in his moodiness. It is as if in death he found a home that escaped him in life. Additionally, a fleeting scene of him cuddling in bed, lit only by the light of his phone, has become a meme that embodies an entire generation of apocalypse.

Full disclosure: Fraulein Elsa Mars made the list after her return in "AHS13" simply because she made the most of her one scene. Some were worried that the unconventional actor would never make it after "The Strange Show." But his unique appearance as Satan's minion, brought to life at his whim to perform for a crowd that could care less, was his own form of Hell –– and it's “AHS13” at its best. Blaming history's worst women in the flames was a fun ritual, but his razor-sharp disparagement of Margaret Thatcher (also impeccably played by Long) was the funniest thing the series has done in years. In his mainstream, the survivor of Nazi Germany abandoned the outcasts, trusting him to give them a safe space in a world. Long has long said that this was her passion role for the show, and after Elsa's swan song she left the scene (at least for a while). What he left behind was a stunning stage presence (see: his David Bowie cover of "Life on Mars") and a certain kind of badass that many characters inherited from him.

Rabe's painfully naïve swamp witch, Misty Day, is not unlike the fragile animals she can bring back to life with her gifts. The world was not kind to her delicate spirit, but she found acceptance and refuge among the girls at Miss Robichaud's Academy. This sentient soul who gets one of the show's crueler fates — caught in Hell dissecting a frog on a ring — gave "Coven" palpable dangers and dire consequences that later seasons sadly undid. We want Misty safe and sound, but her loss was dealt with in the most effective way. Perhaps her greatest gift is that whenever she's around, the White Magician herself, Stevie Nicks, tends to pop in for an acoustic set—and that's never a bad thing.

Some of Peters' best work in all of "AHS" comes from behind Mr. March's pencil-thin mustache, brains, and brutality behind the Cortez Hotel. This devious god of a character who indulges in his own horrific acts of violence has become unexpectedly central to our understanding of the franchise's mythology. He organizes a dinner party for the serial killer of the Devil's Night in the "hotel" and finally collects the soul from them. Different corners of this world in "AHS13." He is among the few who enjoy his eternal damnation and served as the bloody legend he always wanted to be. He is a psychopath who enjoys his madness and likes to hold court whenever the laws of this supernatural world allow.

Myrtle Snow worked with one word more than most characters in the next season of "AHS" with an entire storyline. A wizarding council alum turned sage advisor to Miss Rubicho's Academy, perhaps the collection's best example of pure camp with the choice of "Balencegia!" was As his last words before burning in the fire. But he is more than his (fake) end. From beneath his wrinkled rustic red mop, Conroy has transformed a supporting character into a symbol of outspokenness and fierce loyalty to his fellow wizards. These days, he exists mostly to shadow those who threaten the witches of the "Coven" and support their burnt end. He had to endure this fate, why shouldn't they?

Paulson's most reviewed character has become somewhat of a supporting cast of the "AHS" series. Originally timid, compared to her barn-burning mother, Fiona (Lange), Cordelia became the authority figure the witches of the Coven needed. He was strong without being cruel, powerful without alienating the next generation, and forward-looking because of the covenant. Her anxiety about putting her daughters through the deadly Seven Wonders test, and the losses she will suffer along the way, make the character a pillar of strength in an ominous scene. A world that is still allowed to occasionally tremble under the pressure. Since she was one of the few people who benefited from further exploration of the "apocalypse," we hope "AHS13" leaves Cordelia's legacy intact.

"AHS" continues to rewrite the story of Madison Montgomery, a fading star and witch witch with recurring appearances. But at first, she was a vessel for the angst and angst of a young woman unsure of how to use her literal and metaphorical powers. His unwavering cynicism made his ever-viral "Surprise, Bitch" moment an enduring classic, and "Cavan" initially treats him as a lost cause. Then "Apocalypse" turned him into a reluctant hero, and now "AHS13" has completely bent its course toward foul-mouthed savior (culminating in him lighting a cigarette over the charred corpse of Jeffrey Dahmer ... because, of course). He's at his best when he's at war with his fellow wizards as much as he is, but his influence is undeniable. Just look at who stands by Cordelia in her various battles against the dark forces. Like it or not, Madison is here to save the day.

As its second episode, "Asylum" had a lot to offer "AHS" to the anthology series, so it threw everything at the audience: aliens, religion, musical numbers, Nazis. But no character stands out like Sister Jude, a ruthless nun fleeing a dark past who rules Briarcliffe Asylum with an iron fist and a cabinet full of wooden whips. His fall from grace institutionalized becoming a monolith of himself, after undergoing the electroshock therapy he once prescribed proved that Sister Jude reaped what she sowed. But like the best "AHS" characters, he had enough complexity that his rather sweet ending was justified. Jude's reckoning with his horrors made him the rare person you love to hate and hate to watch go.

"AHS" can create all the creatures and demons it wants, but some of the worst threats exist in the real world right now — and New Orleans nightmare Dolphin Lalary is one of them. A murderer, slaver, sadist and racist, "AHS" did Madame LaLarie a favor she didn't deserve: it cast Bates as her. During his time in Coven, part of which was a disembodied head, Delphine was repeatedly condemned for his unrepentant disregard for others. When he watches President Barack Obama on TV and being forced to serve Queenie, you realize that even Hell isn't hot enough for him.

No one runs to screams of "AHS" like Lana Winters. To his credit, things don't get any worse for intrepid journalist Paulson after being accepted against his will at Briarcliff. He underwent electroshock and conversion therapy to reverse his strange identity. raped, imprisoned and impregnated by a serial killer named Bloody Face (Zachary Quinto); And after years of killing himself, he left her to kill the resulting child. Lana's story could have been relentlessly depressing, but instead she became a flawed beacon of resilience. After fleeing Briarcliff, he gave in to his ambitions for fame and recognition, but who could blame him? Subsequent appearances in "Roanoke" and "The Cult" proved that he had achieved what he always wanted: a career devoted to calling out injustice and evil.

In Season 3, "AHS" needed a spark of life to shake things up, and Bassett delivered it with a dazzling performance as the famous voodoo queen Marie Laveau. The show has had passing encounters with real people before (see: The Black Dahlia Legends and Anne Frank), but Marie was among the first to be a main character. As one of the most important historical figures in New Orleans, Bassett brought a banshee cry to honor this voodoo icon. His chaotic ways, killer instincts and incredibly strong menace, conveyed well through Bassett's sickening lines and body language, make him a force to be reckoned with, and a character that elevates the series every time he returns.

Fiona Good's mean streak is something unmatched in the "AHS" universe. A blistering presence from his first scene in "Coven," he's a menace to anyone with a pulse, even his own kind. The fact that Fiona wasn't a cartoon villain is a true testament to why Lang was so great for the early seasons of "AHS." As revealed by Papa Legba Fiona was selfish, vain, scared, reckless, witty, proud and literally soulless. Long played each one as if it were his defining characteristic. But the danger lay in the fact that he built any semblance of himself on the power he was given, only to watch it slowly go the other way. His punishment at the end of the season was ironic, yes, but it worked because hell came for Fiona before she was cursed with it. A knotty pine forever with an axman was just the cherry on top.

Although she's been a part of "AHS" since the beginning, Oher wasn't given anything to match her depth until "Hotel" introduced audiences to the gorgeous Liz Taylor. Dressed in the kind of glamor and confidence that only comes from a well-earned journey of self-discovery, Liz Taylor is one of Kurtz's few selling points. Keeper of secrets and queen of side-eyes, Liz was able to connect the disparate spirits of the hotel. When he decides to end his life at Court's Land rather than let cancer take him, he is welcomed by everyone trapped within its walls—even the Countess, who is never kinder than when she encourages Liz to accept her true identity. O'Hare deserves tremendous credit for the sympathetic humanity he imbues Liz with, and "Hotel" is better as a season and as a tourist trap because his company is among its comforts.

Rabe is the most underrated "AHS" ringer for the sheer volume of classic characters. Viewers first meet the kind-hearted "Asylum" sister Mary Eunice as she navigates her way through the day as Sister Jude's second-in-command. Her desperation to regain her place in Briarcliff makes her an easy target for the demon's disembodied spirit, which straightens Mary's spine, filling her with hatred and a desire to sow chaos. Rabe's ability to make the innocent Mary and the possessed Mary feel like two distinct characters in one dish is wonderful, seamlessly oscillating between gentle soul and gleeful inferno who just wants to watch Christians eat. Cromwell), one of those monsters — echoed the price many paid in Briarcliff and throughout "AHS."

Nothing beats Constance Langdon for "AHS" audiences. A human horror in a series of supernatural horrors, Lange's first (and best) role in "Murder House" is unique. Unsurprisingly, Murphy and his cohorts couldn't resist anchoring "AHS13" in his resurrection as a servant of Satan, with nothing better to do than help end Hell's Days. All she wants is a misguided motherly request to join her children, Tate and Eddie (Jamie Brewer), with whom she has repeatedly failed. But milking Satan's stupid corpse isn't his worst trait. During the run of "Murder House," Constance was an acid-talking neighborhood gossip, the oblivious mother of a bad seed, a wife with a gun, a man whose dreams withered on the vine, and perhaps most dangerous of all, a lost soul. Desperate for a cause, Constance, with her Southern charm and bigoted worldview, was and remains the promise of the show's title. For all the killers, aliens, witches, vampires, cults, clowns, diseases, demons, and cannibals, he's a horror story worthy of America—a flesh-and-blood man who'd rather watch his neighbors die than be upset.